IDAHO FALLS - "Back in the 80's this place was just jam packed," said horse racing fan Kevin Jacobs.

Kevin Jacobs used to see three times as many fans that there are now, but numbers may be returning.

"I think it's coming back. We thought we lost it for quite a while. But I think it's coming back quite good. We're starting to get better and better turn outs all the time," said Kevin Jacobs.

"It's kind of being a little bit of drop in interest. But it seems to be staying alive pretty well. This is a way a lot of people make their living," said jockey Judd Rasmussen.

"It's a dying sport, I think they need to raise the purses so they have a little bit more money so horses will come from all over the country to run because this is a much better racetrack to run on," said spectator JoLynn Wheeler.

"I don't think horse racing is a dying sport. The people that are involved in horse racing will not let it die. The jockeys, the trainers, the owners, the breeders are so dedicated to this sport they won't let it die. Yeah we're suffering some difficulties, our purses our low. We need some help from our legislature, we need some governmental support. But horse racing especially in this area is very strong, there's a great interest in it," said Mike Bosen, an Idaho Horse Racing Commissioner and race sponsor.

One thing everyone agrees upon is that the down time between races needs to be shortened to increase spectator interest. Because when the race is on, this sport really does have what any sport need to survive.

"Adrenaline. You're going fast, there's a risk and a danger involved," said jockey Judd Rasmussen.

The danger involved for horse racing fans is that it may disappear, but so far it's hanging on.

If you haven't made it out to the track yet, there are still 3 weeks remaining in the horse racing season at Sandy Downs.